Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-11-02
THE LATE COLLISION.
DETAILS or TIE RAILROAD ACCIDENT
NEAR THE soUrHAHHA.
The Dead Body Of Carter Found in the
Wreck-statement Of q
Passenger.


Mr. w. S. Pitcher, wood and coal mer.
chant, is confined to his bed at GIT west
Cary street, suffering from injuries re-
ceiyed during the collision on the Rich
mond, Fredericksburg and Potomac
road Monday morning. He left Rich
mond at 10:0S that morning on an empty
freight train bound for Ruther Gen for
wood, and at the time of the accident
10:23-was sitting in chair in the ca
boose-ca
MEETING OF THE TRAINS.
When the two freight trains met Mr..
Pitcher was thrown violently TO the floor
and Was severely bruised and otherwise
hurt, but to what extent his physicians
have not as yet ascertained He de-
scribes the occurrence as one of the
quickest that can be imagined. His
train had been given the right of way to
its destination, and the south-bound
train at Ashland was given clear passage
to Richmond. So both trains were going
at a good speed, aud met near the South
anna river Just as the Richmond train
rounded a sharp cut.
THE ENGINEERS JUMP.
The trains were not more than 100
yards apart when the engineers, seeing
one another, blew down brakes and
jumped off, This saved their lives. II
they had not leaped they would have been
instantly killed, for the engines met and
the heavier one rushed into the lighter
and both were smashed terribly.
WOUNDED ENGINEERS.
When found the engineers were lying
only fifteen feet apart. Mr.. Forrest
Chesterman, the conductor on the Rich
mond train, ran to the brake as the
whistle blew "down brakes" and the
conclusion had expended its force before
it reached him, and he escaped unhurt
ONE DEAD.
The body of Edmund Carter, the
missing colored brakeman, was found
under a part of one of the engines yes
terday morning, and was turned over to
his relatives at Ruther Glen, in Caroline
county.
The road is now clear sufficiently for
trains to go through.
THE ERROR OF A GOOD AND TRUsTY MAN.
Mr.. William 7. Tyrer, the train-dis-
patcher, whose oversight caused the acci-
dent, has been with the company a long
time, and has always shown himself a
reliable and careful officer. He is sober,
painstaking, laborious, and intelligent.
He had been doing considerable over
work lately, and lost a great deal of
sleep, and when he gave the Richmond
train the right of way he forgot for a
moment that special freight was speed
ing in the opposite direction. He coun-
termanded the order almost Immediately,
but not in time 10 prevent the collision.
When he heard of the accident-which
he knew WAS inevitable-he was greatly
shocked, and still labors under great
distress of mind, though scarcely man
can be found who speaks of his error
with any harshness. Mr.. Pitcher said
&" cannot find it in my heart to say a
word against him."
THE WOUNDED.
The two engineers-Messrs. Huntley
and Deuell-were brought to the city
with Mr.. Pitcher soon after the accident.
They were badly bruised-about the face
and hands especially-but are not seri-
ously hurt.
1t is a rare thing for the Fredericks-
burg road to have an accident. 1t has
an almost unequalled record for safe and
clever management, and this collision in
no wise impairs the confidence the pub
lie has long had in it.
FURTHER DETAILS.
The Ashland correspondent OF the
Dispatch gives some additional particu-
lars as follows: This was but the second
collision on this road in thirty.tive years.
The freight train, carrying nineteen cars
Qoaded), collided with the wood train,
carrying several flats, just in froat of
the cabin of Robert Lindsay, two hun
dred yards south of the Southanna
bridge. Seven of the freight-cars were
badly broken up, scattering wheat, corn,
furniture, and oil-barrels in many di-
rections. Engine No. 10 had made only
five trips on the road, having been re-
Gently purchased. She can be rebuilt
at no very great cost. Engine No. 4
has been in constant use for fourteen
years, aud went almost TO pieces in the (
collision.
Engineer Charles Huntley was badly
cut on the face and arm, and Engi- !
neer Albert Deuel. was painfully hurt. !
Your correspondent visited the scene
of the wreck at late hour Monday
night. The road was clear Monday |
night at 8 o'clock, but an extra engine in |
trying to pass the wreck spread the track
and delayed the south-bound train about
four hours. A great part OF the freight
was brought to Ricemond to-day Tues |
day). A valuable piano and an organ
were completely smashed.